Science education experts warn against hasty A-level reform

26 March 2014

With the Ofqual Board due to confirm a selection of A-level reforms today, the Science Community Representing Education (SCORE), of which the Royal Society of Chemistry is a partner organisation, has written to The Times calling on Ofqual not to separate practical marks from core A-level grades.

The letter reads:

Sir,

As a partnership of the leading scientific learned societies, SCORE has grave concerns that Ofqual will today decide to separate practical marks from the core A level grades in biology, chemistry and physics.

At a time when the UK needs to be cultivating a scientifically skilled workforce, we're standing on the verge of depriving our children of a grounding in hands-on scientific experimentation.

We implore Ofqual to reconsider or delay this process in order to address unresolved questions surrounding the proposals.